The Alcohol Education Trust are extremely pleased with the recommendations from The Home Affairs Committee on Drink Spiking. Helena Conibear our CEO submitted both written and verbal evidence to the Committee and is thrilled that nearly all of the proposals that the AET put forward are being taken forward.
Helena commented, ‘The lack of reporting by those who have been victims of drink spiking, the lack of collecting forensic evidence from those who are brave enough to share their ordeal and the lack of prosecutions have allowed the perpetrators of spiking to get away with this crime for far too long.
At last we have some concrete proposals that will address the crime – the reclassification of the most common drugs used for spiking and the move towards drink spiking being a stand alone offence and a focus on collecting evidence will make a huge difference to addressing this scourge on society.’
You can read the full report and recommendations here: Spiking – Committees – UK Parliament
The Home Affairs Committee have made a good video of their findings with testimonials from forensic toxicologists and a victim of drink spiking that you can view here:: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH3xBOoVJWI&feature=share
Remember, we have a range of resources on drink spiking-including two short films- which you can access via Drink spiking – Alcohol Education Trust.
Possessing drugs used to spike drinks will result in tougher sentences in the UK
A great first step is that across the UK, people found to be unlawfully possessing or supplying drugs used to spike drinks will face harsher prison sentences.
The Home Office has said that GHB and two related substances, GBL and 1,4-BD, have been reclassified in a bid to deter criminals.Those in unlawful possession of the Class B drugs will face up to five years behind bars, with up to 14 years for those involved in supply and production.